If you’re wondering where and when to see fireworks this Fourth of July in metro Atlanta, your best bet may be to just stay home. Large-scale fireworks shows have returned, but with gas prices and the heat, your backyard might be a better option.
However, before you take the show into your own hands, there are some things to keep in mind about an at-home fireworks display.
Fireworks come with some risk of injury, especially burns and eye wounds.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of "180 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday."
For that reason, the commission is encouraging consumers to:
- Keep fireworks out of the hands of children
- Buy from a reputable vendor
- Follow local and state laws
Remember, if you do decide to stay home and have a fireworks show of your own, rules vary on how late you can set them off, depending on where you live.
While Georgia cities cannot ban the use of fireworks, they can extend hours, regulate where fireworks are sold through zoning and enact taxes on sales, according to the Georgia Municipal Association.
If you decide to celebrate the nation’s birthday at home, make sure your pets are safe.
Pets that become frightened at the boom of fireworks have hurt themselves going through windows to escape to a safe place. And dogs tied up outside while fireworks are being used in the area could break free of their tethers and run toward traffic.
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